TechPoints: What's the Point?

I'm just a editor -- I wasn't here at the beginning of TR. I know management has a plan, but I was just curious about what TR members would say if they were asked what they wanted to do with them.

It was announced a few weeks ago. Don't worry; we aren't going anywhere. They've already created an org chart for us!

:)

But Im sure I'm even more far off to someone somewhere else ;>

You're an IT Goddess, who likes T-shirts and Guinness....

Works for me ;> lol.

Maybe we can all get flagged on Guinness and then write the ultimate virus code that seeks out all Internet Connected Windows XP Beta clients and it deletes their hard drive but only before a message saying "Come on you don't really want to use this OS do you? Here, try again..." ;)

It's a Seinfeld rip off I know, but come on people, let's face it...there are a lot of lamers out there, and this discussion has honed in on some of the finer points about this topic.

I have to hand it to TR.com though...being able to review a member's answer acceptance/denial % is very nice.

I had some guy offer 1000 points, and 2 other suckers like myself helped this guy out by offering tips on how to accomplish what he was looking for...Guess what?

"thanks for the responses, but Ifigured it out on my own" my left arm you did.

It was nice a nice lesson to learn though. Now, I actually take the time to check out the question submitor's Percentage before I actually post an answer. about 75% of the time I actually get the points for the questions I answer...I'd hate to guess what that ratio would be if I didn't take the time to check the Percentages.

Anyway, this is long...time to end it..

Mike

Was told by a reliable source, but the question was retoric, given the structure of the crashes.
Regards, Chris

Most of the members here that are over 10K have the same attitude that P M Wright and I have. We overlook system errors, but appeciate the fact that most of the times this happens the member will send an email about how the problem was resolved.
Troubleshooting knowledge is valuable.
Tech points are not really very important.
Regards, Chris

I have gotten plenty of email from people who later found out my answer was correct, even though they had rejected it, so there is hope.
This is not to say, that I don't make my own fair share of mistakes.

Regards, Chris

Don't quit "joking around".
Your humor, which some members consider excessive, is definitely necessary, to offset the definitely excessive seriousness, that some members take towards their Tech Points.
Regards, Chris

Hey folks, TechPoints are a way for us to think we are doing something for something in return, because its our nature. However, look at it this way. As a huge concentrated network we can help bring the level of IT knowledge to all new heights by knowledge sharing. This creates a much greater benefit than POINTS. If I need help and this site finds me help then I am willing to help someone else. I think TR should keep the POINTS program going, but recognize people on for knowledge sharing maybe via a TR attaboy or recognition site with their pictures and maybe an article that they have written and let TR's first page be that recognition site and maybe even throw in a few points for visiting the site on a weekly or daily basis :-). I think you will find a lot more people would rather be recognized by almost 2 million TR peers then with some fruitless points, however, like I said, keep the points and find a way to add value to them. I really like this site and beleive that its IT collaboration potential is not being reached because if I have a tough Q&A and I have very few POINTS then I am screwed, however, if the incentive was of a different nature then I might get help. Put up a suggestion site and watch what happens, just as better collaboration will help with TR issues, so will it help TR build one hell of a recognition and atta-boy site. No one idea will work but 1.8 million people in agreement may shock a world that only talks of collaboration, HELL WE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL SHAPE TECHNOLOGY'S FUTURE. I DO NOT NEED A TECHPOINT TO HELP SOMEONE IF I HAVE TIME, BUT IF I DO IT AND THE USERS VOTE ME INTO THE RECOGNITION PAGE THEN THAT WOULD BE COOL AS HECK. ALSO ADD A RECOGNITION CATEGORY FOR MOST HUMOROUS, HECK WHO KNOWS I MIGHT SHOW UP THERE ONE DAY. just my thoughts

Pardon my newness, but who awards the little boxes? And I have noticed that some answers are rejected, but get little boxes anyway. Is there a panel of participants who monitor all these forums for technical correctness? (or is it fora)

This is just an FYI, but CNET slashed TR's employees by 60%. I think mostly editors are left. There are only 10 people (mostly sales) left in CA. Kentucky was pretty hard hit also.

I'd personally like to see you offer the items in your catalog (books, CDs, whatever else) in exchange for the points. Structure a rate of exchange, i.e, X points = $X off price. The more points, the more money removed from the price of the item. Yes, even to the point of getting the item for free.